Kids pony- part 2

[I don’t like mondays]

I’ve posted before about my daughters pony. She has PSSM1 and hock and SI arthritis (the arthritis is classed as moderate so not insignificant). She has a tendency to rear when unhappy/sore. I thought we’d started to get her better (my confidence was back too) but yesterday had a huge out of nowhere set back where she reared continually (almost going over backwards at times and also striking out) and wouldn’t walk forward on long lines, no obvious external trigger :-( I’m sure it’s a Pssm flare up or arthritis but I’ve tried everything to help her and I can’t risk her doing this on a sore day. This was the worst she’s been. If my daughter had been riding her she could’ve pulled her over backwards (she’s a nervous novice)

she’s had every scan and X-ray going. Loads of management changes. Didn’t improve after steroid injections months ago but started to slowly improve (after Pssm management) until yesterday. The thing I’m struggling with is I don’t know why she relapsed yesterday. She was fine the day before. I’m also concerned that her way to show she’s sore is extreme behaviour. I’ve always tried to listen to her.

I know what I need to do next (I can’t risk her being sold on, passed around etc or even rearing as someone’s companion) but I’m struggling to come to terms with how she was such a different pony at first and now this, it all happened so quickly :-( My daughter is at the point where she’s got no confidence and is thinking of quitting horses.

 

[SEL]

I'm sorry. Its one of those conditions that you can keep plodding on tweaking this and that but there will always be relapses - weather can often cause them.

It might be the combination of muscle disease and arthritis just means it's too much for her body at times. Come warmer more settled weather you could have your child friendly pony back again but I understand if you need to call time.

I've had a PSSM horse at either end of the spectrum so I get why some people think it's easy to manage - but my big mare has struggled for years and she'll go up when she's in pain. I wouldn't put a child on her.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I'm sorry. Its one of those conditions that you can keep plodding on tweaking this and that but there will always be relapses - weather can often cause them.

It might be the combination of muscle disease and arthritis just means it's too much for her body at times. Come warmer more settled weather you could have your child friendly pony back again but I understand if you need to call time.

I've had a PSSM horse at either end of the spectrum so I get why some people think it's easy to manage - but my big mare has struggled for years and she'll go up when she's in pain. I wouldn't put a child on her.

Thanks SEL. I really thought I was getting somewhere until yesterday. I keep wracking my brain to wonder if I could’ve done something differently but ultimately rearing (continually) is too dangerous for a kids pony :-( I think you’re right and it’s a combination of weather, muddy conditions aggravating the Pssm and arthritis

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

I know loads of people having trouble with there horses at the moment weather it’s weather related or not I don’t know , my pony is horrendous in winter and a Angel in summer her go too is rearing on the ground she’s never done it under saddle since been backed

 

[maya2008]

As I have said before, given my experience, I would pts a horse or pony with pssm if they developed any injury or illness preventing them from being in full work. As soon as they have to slow down, it’s so so hard to try to keep on top of it and in the end you just end up losing. If it helps, I researched hugely when my old mare first went symptomatic, and it is apparently common for non-symptomatic equines to become symptomatic after a sudden slow-down due to injury. Once you have triggered this, they never seem to be able to quite make it back to the way they were before.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I know loads of people having trouble with there horses at the moment weather it’s weather related or not I don’t know , my pony is horrendous in winter and a Angel in summer her go too is rearing on the ground she’s never done it under saddle since been backed

Thanks G&R. My late horse was worse on the ground than ridden too (I was injured on the ground but never came off him riding). So far this pony hasn’t reared under saddle but she’s not been in ridden work for 4 months. If she was an adults pony I’d take a chance but I just can’t trust her with a novice kid

 

[I don’t like mondays]

As I have said before, given my experience, I would pts a horse or pony with pssm if they developed any injury or illness preventing them from being in full work. As soon as they have to slow down, it’s so so hard to try to keep on top of it and in the end you just end up losing. If it helps, I researched hugely when my old mare first went symptomatic, and it is apparently common for non-symptomatic equines to become symptomatic after a sudden slow-down due to injury. Once you have triggered this, they never seem to be able to quite make it back to the way they were before.

Thanks Maya. That’s reassuring. It feels like a losing battle sadly. It’s almost worse because she was such a lovely girl back in the summer, absolutely perfect ridden and on the ground. I think you’re right that the slow down in work means we can’t get on top of it now plus the SI and hocks make things harder

 

[Dexter]

I'm so sorry to read this. I'd hoped you'd cracked it. Did her muscles feel tight? I used to check mine all the time and always before work. They need to feel like jelly everytime before you ride/work her.

Maya has a good point. Consistent hard work is the key to PSSM 1. Mine was brilliant on twice a day work, good on daily hard work. Otherwise it was easier to turn away and start again if I couldn't maintain the work load. And slow plodding wasn't enough on its own, I needed to do fast work 3 times a week minimum.

Explosive outbursts are also a symptom of PSSM 2. I would never ever let a child on a pony with PSSM 2 and I honestly wouldn't bother trying to keep it in work. If that is suspected, then I'd PTS with a clear conscience.

 

[I don’t like mondays]

I'm so sorry to read this. I'd hoped you'd cracked it. Did her muscles feel tight? I used to check mine all the time and always before work. They need to feel like jelly everytime before you ride/work her.

Maya has a good point. Consistent hard work is the key to PSSM 1. Mine was brilliant on twice a day work, good on daily hard work. Otherwise it was easier to turn away and start again if I couldn't maintain the work load. And slow plodding wasn't enough on its own, I needed to do fast work 3 times a week minimum.

Explosive outbursts are also a symptom of PSSM 2. I would never ever let a child on a pony with PSSM 2 and I honestly wouldn't bother trying to keep it in work. If that is suspected, then I'd PTS with a clear conscience.

Thanks Dexter, I was hoping we’d cracked it until yesterday. So out of the blue. Yes I checked all the muscles and all felt like jelly before and after which is what’s even more confusing. Would Pssm 2 have similar symptoms? Also the amount of work a pssm1 horse needs would be so tricky in winter (we have no electricity, school work etc)

 

[eahotson]

Your child must come first.Retire her if you can afford to or have her put to sleep . There is no shame in this.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Thanks Dexter, I was hoping we’d cracked it until yesterday. So out of the blue. Yes I checked all the muscles and all felt like jelly before and after which is what’s even more confusing. Would Pssm 2 have similar symptoms? Also the amount of work a pssm1 horse needs would be so tricky in winter (we have no electricity, school work etc)

Have you tried him/her on a different yard mine is better at my friends yard no idea at all why might be better if with a adult rider rather than a kid how big is pony x

 

[Dexter]

Thanks Dexter, I was hoping we’d cracked it until yesterday. So out of the blue. Yes I checked all the muscles and all felt like jelly before and after which is what’s even more confusing. Would Pssm 2 have similar symptoms? Also the amount of work a pssm1 horse needs would be so tricky in winter (we have no electricity, school work etc)

If you have a look at the videos it explains much better than I can

 

[I don’t like mondays]

If you have a look at the videos it explains much better than I can

Thanks